Daniel C. Peterson's Blog, page 1138

More resources for teachers and students from the Interpreter Foundation

    Are you aware of these helpful items, designed (along with our scripture roundtables) to help teachers and students of the scriptures?  Particularly in Gospel Doctrine classes?   http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/cate...   Dr. Taylor Halverson is uniquely qualified to provide them, with doctorates from Indiana University in both biblical studies and instructional design.  The Interpreter Foundation [Read More...]

What is the most important aid that we might offer to our brothers and sisters?

    I was struck, late this afternoon, by the “weekly quote” sent out from the BYU Faculty Center to all who teach at the University:   “Defending the faith intelligently is only one kind of aid we might offer our far-flung brothers and sisters, albeit surely the most important one.”   It’s attributed to [Read More...]

Two anniversaries today

    It’s easy to forget, since General Conference ended yesterday and we’re now in the middle of an ordinary work day, but today is the 185th birthday of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   Today is also the second anniversary of the death of my wife’s mother.  My in-laws have established [Read More...]

Once more, on those dissenting votes at General Conference

    Here’s some historical background on negative votes at General Conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:   http://ldsliving.com/story/78523-diss...   Plainly, Saturday’s “No” votes weren’t the first.   Moreover, I’m serenely confident that they won’t be the last.   What distinguishes the “New Atheism” from the old familiar variety is its [Read More...]

“‘Everything is ready now’: A near-death experience”

    A curious account from the late Father Richard J. Neuhaus, the founding editor of First Things, one of my very favorite magazines:   http://www.nationalreview.com/article...    

“How LDS missionaries are using social media to reach an evolving audience”

    We’ve been somewhat slow, as a people, to take up the social media for spreading the Gospel, but this is the future of the missionary effort:   http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86...   I’m very excited about it.   I was worried, even as a young missionary years ago in tiny Switzerland, that, given our small numbers, [Read More...]

The three new temples that were just announced

    I’m thrilled that three new temples were announced just now, and I’m thrilled by the locations for which they were announced:   Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire Port-au-Prince, Haiti Bangkok, Thailand     I’m thrilled, too, as I consider the people that these three temples will serve.  Two of them, I’m sure, will be overwhelmingly staffed [Read More...]

On the “No” vote during yesterday’s sustaining of general Church officers

    Some may be aware that there was a vocal “No” vote during the sustaining of general Church officers in the afternoon session of General Conference yesterday.  (Simply quietly raising the right hand to indicate a negative vote must have seemed too tame.)   I don’t know how many voted “No.”  It might have [Read More...]

Χριστός ἀνέστη!

    “If man had his way, the plan of redemption would be an endless and bloody conflict. In reality, salvation was bought not by Jesus’ fist, but by His nail-pierced hands; not by muscle but by love; not by vengeance but by forgiveness; not by force but by sacrifice. Jesus Christ our Lord surrendered [Read More...]

“Jesus went to Hell, but nobody wants to talk about it”

      He doesn’t get it entirely right, but at least he’s reminding his readers of the so-called Harrowing of Hell, also known as the Descensus.   http://religiondispatches.org/jesus-w...   This is a very Easter-related topic.   Latter-day Saints are greatly blessed to have more knowledge on this matter than other Christians, mostly as a [Read More...]